Does anyone have Treatment Resistant Depression. I have been on close to 50 anti-depressants and?

... anti-psychotics in the last 35 years, had 4 Electro Shock Treatments, had the Vagus Nerve Stimulator implanted, and have been on Stimulants and my depression is still making me miserable. Is there anything else I can do? Is there any hope for me? I also have generalized anxiety disorder--anxiety and panic attacks and bouts of agoraphobia.

Responses (1)

Hi lovethecity- Treatment resistant depression with anxiety is a tuff one. The agoraphobia is terrible when it happens. I feel for you and know how it feels when the meds do not work. There is always hope. Have you looked into trials for new meds that are in your area?Have you tried an anticonvulsant or some 'off label' meds? Maybe a specialist or teaching hospital for new ideas? Someone that can think outside of the box? A new doctor or doctors? Therapy, EMDR and CBT? Hypnosis, acupuncture, acupressure? A dietician? An inpatient facility that specialized in depression? Faith, God, Buddha, spiritualism, yoga, born again, a therapy dog? Forgive yourself for having these disorders?Forgive those who do not understand your disorders? Get mad and it, tell it to go f--- k it's self that you will not allow it to rule your life? Read self-help books? Learn all you can about what you have? Make it a friend not a foe?

I am just throwing things out with the hope that something will stick, as they say.Your courage humbles me.

janiebeme,Thank you so much for your reply. Today I started on the generic of Abilify and am so tired because one of the 10 medications I take is for chronic back pain--Oxycontin. What is EMDR and CBT? Because of lack of better insurance than Medicare and low income I am limited to what I can do. I will though research what you suggested and see what I can afford. My faith in God helps at times but it is very difficult. You seem extremely knowledgeable. Would you mind being my friend on here? I don't know how to do it though. Thanks again!

janiebme, i came across your response to lovethecity57, and with my circumstances, this response is something i can apply to myself and i am glad to have read it, it helps me feel a little hopeful, so thank you for posting!

Since your response to me, I was put on Abilify, which was a train wreck, and taken off Invega. After 6 days of torture, I went back to the Invega. The doctor raised my lamotrigine (generic for Lamictal--don't mean to insult you if you knew that) 50 mgs. in the a.m. and 50 mgs. in the p.m. to equal a total of 400 mgs. per day. It seems to have helped a little. I also signed up to go to Group Therapy for Depression twice a month, hoping that I meet some people who I can be friends with along with getting a lot of help through the therapy.

I have another thing working for me, and that is I have been praying more. It gives me hope, and that is powerful. I count my blessings and try not to concentrate on having the depression and worrying that there is nothing out there for me. My late husband used to say, "Why worry? Will it change the outcome?" I am asking myself that more and more. He was so right!

Thank you again for responding to my original post. Being that I am on SSD and have Medicare, I have a lot of bills and yet I am always told that my income is too high for assistance. This means some of the things you suggested are not affordable. I working on some of the other things you suggested though!

Hi Love the city-My post went pending again!! So maybe this time it will not. To add me as a friend you click on the icon above my name JA then at the top of the page it will say add friend.Happy that your faith helps you. It is always good to find others in a group that share the same disorders and ups and downs.Hope to hear from you soon.